Wenatchee, a great place to do business!

Economic Development

Wenatchee is the urban center of 70,000 people in a region that has traditionally been dependent on agriculture and government sectors as the mainstay of the economy. This combination has provided Wenatchee with a stable economic environment over the years. Over the last decade the economy has diversified significantly and today, the area’s largest employers reflect not only the region’s agricultural heritage, but also other strengths including hydroelectric power, health care, technology and tourism industries.

North Central Washington has also been discovered for its clean renewable hydropower energy. Data farms in the Columbia Basin provide significant economic value by tapping into our strengths of electrical and HVAC businesses that support our fresh fruit industry. Wenatchee is experiencing a high appreciation economic environment based on influences from the Seattle Metro economy and its desirable livability amenities centered around outdoor recreation.
The “We are Wenatchee” video provides a great representation of our valley.

Wenatchee’s livability as an urban hub for all of North Central Washington is boosted by the numerous features that attract tourists and treat locals on a year-around basis from the newly improved Mission Ridge ski area, the Pybus Public Market, the Town Toyota Center, the Foothills Trails System and the growing Apple Capital Recreational Loop Trail along the Columbia River in Wenatchee.

Market

In understanding Wenatchee’s market and assets for the purposes of locating or expanding a business, there are several important factors to consider:

Wenatchee’s business and community assets serve the region, and they are representative of the area’s industry clusters:

1.  Health Care: Confluence Health, Columbia Valley Community Health
   
   
2.  Education: Wenatchee Valley College, Central Washington University (on WVC Campus),
    Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center
   
   
3.  Agriculture: Wenatchee’s history as the Apple Capital of the World has defined the region’s agricultural infrastructure  – which is state-of-the-art for fruit production, storage and packing, fruit shippers and marketers, and value-added processes.  The newly flourishing wine industry is represented by Wenatchee Wine Country.  Wenatchee is quickly becoming a food/wine destination. 
   
   
4.  Arts: The Stanley Civic Center, which includes the Numerica Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee and the   Wenatchee Convention Center, Town Toyota Center, Music Theatre of Wenatchee/Riverside Playhouse,
    Sun Basin Theaters, Art on the Avenues, and Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra.
   
   
5.  Technology: Confluence Technology Center 
   
   
6.  Recreation: From the Apple Capital Recreational Loop Trail to the Wenatchee Foothills Trails, and Mission Ridge –  this valley has it all.

In addition, a wealth of information data about the community exists on the Chelan-Douglas Trends Network website which you can find by clicking here. 

Opportunity Zones 

The City of Wenatchee in partnership with the Port of Chelan County and Chelan County secured three census tracks as designated Opportunity Zones. This designation is a crucial step to facilitate Opportunity Fund investment in the region. Douglas County also as a census track in the Wenatchee Valley designated as an Opportunity Zone such that almost the entire Wenatchee Valley is set up for opportunity investments.

The Opportunity Zone designation application to the State Department of Commerce can be downloaded here (pdf).  More information about Opportunity Zones can be found at the Washington State Department of Commerce at this link

CURRENT PROJECTS

North Wenatchee Avenue Redevelopment

North Wenatchee Avenue Master Plan: The purpose of the project is to create a redevelopment strategy for the vacant and damaged parcels impacted by the Sleepy Hollow Fire of 2015 and a development framework for returning the vacant properties to productive use supported by market demand and highest and best use of the area. Download the plan here.

Reimagine Wenatchee Target Area Master Plan

With numerous publicly and privately led redevelopments and investments slated for Wenatchee's downtown in the coming years, the Reimagine Wenatchee Target Area Master Plan seeks to identify, study, and leverage the common threads that can help tie them into a cohesive whole - one that is supportive of local business and community and that enhances the identity of the city.  Download the plan LINK.

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